When a 2-percent cost of living adjustment raise was given to all city employees earlier this year, city Councilman Bob Ward and Mayor Ronnie Wall declined their shares, though all city council members are eligible for the raises.

They both reasoned any city council raises should be publicly discussed, which Wall plans to do at a future work session.

“I just felt like … that’s the kind of thing that I believe should have been discussed and the public made aware of it at the time of budget deliberations,” said Ward. “I don’t recall it being discussed.” Wall said he agreed, after reading a memo Ward sent him.

The provision was mentioned at the council’s budget work session on May 14, where it was stated that the 2012-2013 budget would provide for a 2-percent cost of living adjustment for city employees.

Ward felt that if it had been discussed, he understood the raise to apply to city employees but didn’t make mention of councilmen.

When asked if he turned down the raise because he plans to run against Wall for the mayorship, Ward said, “That doesn’t have anything to do with it.”

He said, “At this point I have not made any decisions about what I’ll be doing in the future,” and added he just wants to do the best he can in the position he holds now.

Wall said when he became a councilman in 2005 he made a salary, and received a pay raise in 2007 when he became mayor.

“That’s the raise I knew I would get from being the mayor,” Wall said. “I’ve never gotten one since.” He said he didn’t know he was considered a city employee.

Upon receiving Ward’s memo, Wall said he was prompted to do some research and learned previous administration had held public discussion on the subject in 1999 or 2000 and, “It was deemed that city council members were considered to be city employees, as well.”

“Obviously, there’s some history behind this decision,” Wall said. However, he said that decision was made before he was on the City Council and thought it should be revisited.

“If I’m going to receive a pay raise, I’d like to have public discussion about it,” said Wall, adding he turned down an extra $9.50 per paycheck raise.

“It wasn’t about the money as much as the process,” he said. “It’s more about openness and public discussion,” Wall said, adding he’ll likely bring the topic up for discussion at a January or February work session.

City Councilman Celo Faucette confirmed he had accepted the cost of living adjustment, but if the city council determines its members would no longer be eligible, he said, “I’m willing to give it back if that’s the case.”